Euroviews. Q&A: EURO 2024 qualification lifts Ukrainian spirits during Russia’s war

Earlier in March, Ukraine's national football team defeated Iceland to secure qualification for EURO 2024. 

The result will see Ukraine compete in European football’s most prestigious competition this summer, facing Belgium, Romania, and Slovakia in the group stage in Germany.

Qualifying for the European Championships is significant for any country. But for Ukraine, a country that has been ravaged by Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression for more than two years, playing in the tournament will mean much more.

To discuss the significance of Ukraine’s recent achievement, Mark Temnycky spoke with Ukrainian national team and Shakhtar Donetsk fullback Yukhym Konoplya, touching upon  Ukraine’s recent qualification playoffs against Iceland and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, how football has been impacted by the war.

Euronews: On March 26, Ukraine qualified for the European Championships. What does qualification for EURO 2024 mean for the Ukrainian national team and the country?

Yukhym Konoplya: Qualification is very significant. Not only were Ukrainians hoping that Ukraine would qualify, but observers from all over the world were supporting our team.

We received many congratulations from our citizens and our soldiers. As a team, we celebrated these successes, but qualification for the EUROs was for the nation’s defenders.

Euronews: The EUROs are one of the world’s most-watched sporting competitions. There will be much coverage of Ukraine during the competition. How can Ukraine use the European Championships to remind the world about Russia’s ongoing invasion?

Yukhym Konoplya: Ukrainian footballers in Ukraine and across Europe are constantly speaking with one another on how to keep the